Mental Health. Let’s Talk About It.

There have been times where I was embarrassed to say out loud that my mental health was suffering. I know that that is not unique to just me. At the end of the day, everyone goes through periods where their mental health may not be the strongest. Life will always throw curveballs, have rainy days or sometimes just unfortunate things that happen. It is OK. It is a part of the cycle of life. With that being said, those are the times where it’s the most important to be real with yourself and the people around you when your mental health isn’t as strong.

Mental health in our community is something that tends to be a taboo topic or a topic that carries shame. Why? As humans, we all experience a variety of feelings and life experiences. Some of us may also put our mental health on the back burner or pretend that it doesn’t exist.

Silencing mental health and seeing it as a sign of weakness causes a negative stigma on a very real problem. It minimizes the reality of so many people and creates a level of fear for those with genuine concerns. Mental Health impacts multiple aspects of our lives. It impacts our cognitive functioning, our perception of the world around us and our behavior. Oftentimes when our mental health is suffering, our bodies will give signs that will let you know…it’s just a matter of whether you know what signs to look for.

Some common signs of a poor mental health are

• Difficulty concentrating

• Worrying more than usual

• Being more distractible

• Fatigue

• Isolating from others

• Sleeping more than usual

• Not feeling motivated to do things (even the things you like to do)

• Irritability

• Difficulty regulating your emotions

• Crying more often

• Changes to your appetite

• Feeling more overwhelmed

This list is not exhaustive of all of the signs but it may be a good place to start with taking a personal inventory of how you’re feeling.

If you struggle with your mental health, it’s important to understand that you are not alone and these feelings won’t last forever. There are also multiple resources in your community that were made for you. Whether it’s leaning on friends and family or tuning into the things that you like to do that give you joy. It can also be finding a psychiatrist or therapist to talk to.

Asking for help is not a shameful act. Being honest is an act of strength. Focusing on your mental health is self care. It is actually the Essence of Care.